My 35th Birthday

Yes I typed that right I'm 35!!! It sure is hard to believe I'm approaching my late 30's.  I honestly still think of myself as being early 20's.  I guess that's good to keep me young at heart.  It also helps being married to my high school sweet heart because we feel like we are still kids together.  My birthday was on a Tuesday this year.  I was so use to having weekend birthdays the last few years so we were able to go out of town but with Halloween on Saturday it was to hard to plan a trip away this year so we decided to save that for December and to stay local for my birthday.  The kids were so excited for my big day.  On Monday Carter was smiling so big and I asked him what was making him so happy and he said, "I just can't wait for tomorrow because it's your birthday." Monday night before me birthday I went out with my new friend Mary and while I was gone Aubrey lost her 7th tooth.  She was very excited to have the tooth fairy come on my birthday morning.  

November 3rd I woke up to two very adorable kids with a couple of very sweet handmade cards and then with a string that lead me through the whole house to all my gifts.  The kids got the idea from the new Frozen short when it's Elsa's birthday.  They were beyond excited to surprise me with that idea they had.

 The string had me go through the whole house and then end in the dinning room with all my gifts.  It wa so much fun!! I felt like the luckiest mom ever! 

Aubrey made me an adorable picture memory box,  She painted it my favorite colors.  I loved all the pictures that she picked for the outside.  Inside the box there was a bottle of Orange paint.  I guess I had mentioned while a project that I needed a new orange paint and so she picked that out for me, so thoughtful.

 Carter painted me a very pretty mini jewelry box that is perfect to be  by my bed to put my wedding rings in at night time.  It was just so sweet and also so thoughtful.  I had mentioned I needed a special place for my rings and he remembered.

 Daddy got me a new bath and body candle for Christmas time that I really wanted.

 He also got me a dress I had been eyeing and a fun new software to make greeting cards.  I had said I wanted to started to design my own and he picked me out a great introto card making software now I just need to find the time to play with it.

 Tuesday was a great day for my birthday it's my day off.  I work Monday, Carter's class Wednesday and Aubrey's class Friday's.  I love all my weekly obligations but it was nice to have my special day on a day I don't have anything to do.  I drove the kids to school and then I came home and took my time doing a nice long run in the garage while watching 90210.  Then I got to Deuce on a nice fall walk.  I then got ready and had a great date lunch with Spencer at my favorite place, Panera.

I was sad I didn't get any pictures at the restaurant but I did still have my cup so I took one when Spencer got home lol.

After lunch I went to pick up my favorite excited little guy! We decided to go to one of may favorite stores, Target.

When we finished there it was still about an hour and half until Aubrey got off but I couldn't wait so we went and picked her up early.  She was very excited.  She was so happy that I had my new dress on and actually when we got home went and put on a dress to be like me :) after cake time

 We then hung out at home and waited for Spencer to get off.  He surprised me and got off early too.  He came home with a beautiful cake.  I love bakery white cake with white butter cream froasting and pink and purple flowers.  It's been my favorite since I can remeber.  Even though we hadn't had our dinner yet we decided that we wanted to do cake then.

It was so yummy!! I'm glad we did cake then because after dinner I was so stuffed that I could only eat a little slever so it was awesome getting to eat a huge piece before dinner.  After cake we did table prizes.  The kids just love this tradition.

 Spencer got a super fun dice game that we have been really enjoying playing as a family.

 After that we were off to Turlock for an awesome birthday dinner at Red Robins and then some Old Navy shopping.

It was a GREAT day.  I felt very special with all the nice phone calls, text messages and cards.  I loved being with my with my little family that day.  I went to bed feeling very blessed and not too old, lol.

Of course birthdays never just last one day.  I celebrated all week long.

Gotta love the cheez it and cake lunch the next day.

 Wednesday night the Sharps took me out to Jantz for dinner and to celebrate.  Sadly I didn't get  a group shot but I did get the kids with their huge cookies.

Saturday November 7th we got to celebrate with my family in Modesto.  My sister actually came out to Merced on Friday because she had a baking job out here (pictures in the next post) so we hung out Friday and then all went to the mall on Saturday.  We then met up with my parents and brother at Bj's.  I love that restaurant.  We had really good service our waitress was so sweet. We sat and talked and we were really enjoying ourselves when a manager came over and apologized for our food taking so long.  We were all having so much fun visiting and opening gifts we didn't even notice.  Our waitress was so sweet about it and a long story short we ended up getting our entire meal for free.  It was pretty amazing! I thought the cake my mom and dad got was perfect but my mom was mad that the roses looked more like daisy's and were too dark of a purple so she ended up complaining to the bakery and sure enough we got the cake for free too.  It was a great night of surprises.  I loved that I got to have this party with the people that mean the most to me ever.

The kids love that Nana & Papa do table prizes too.

 Both my brother and sister gave me gift cards to my favorite store.  My parents gave me a great new winter running suit.

 and surprised me big time with a new Coach clutch that I love.

 It was a great night! Full of laughs, great food, wonderful company and lots of love.  Getting old is not that bad!

Mom found out after my birthday that I had been eyeing a new pair of green hunter rain boots so she talked me into ordering them for my Birthday too. 

I love birthdays!!!!

October 2015

This will probably be the longest, most pictures ever over board of a post but in an effort to get caught up it's just gotta be that way! Here we go!!

The first weekend in October we went to the pumpkin patch I already did a post about that but here are a couple pictures from my cell phone:

Pumpkin patch morning breakfast:

The first weekend was also conference weekend. The kids are so much more into it now.  Aubrey even took notes and they loved to sing along with the choir.  We did our conference store which is always a big hit with the kids.

Tuesday October 6th was a ceremony at girl scouts.  It was the start of her Brownie year.

Thursday October 8th was Carter's Kindergarten field trip to Hunter Farms.

 Carter, Anderson and Aaron.  They are so cute together.

 Scarlett and Carter they really like to play together too.

 Carter's adorable class:

Roxy, Evan, Cord, Anderson, Lincoln, Aaron, Victoria, Gabby, Ian, Carter, Scarlett, Maren and Maddox.

This picture has Mrs. Mary and Mrs. Allen with the kids.

 I'm so happy that Carter is at Sonshine it has just been so awesome.  The kids are all adorable, the teachers are so loving and I'm getting to know all the moms.  I have been getting closer to some of the moms.  We have had a play date, a Starbucks date and a grown up party with the husbands.  I'm really happy we are there and getting to meet some new families.   I also love my afternoons with my buddy before we pick sister up.

After the field trip we went out to lunch.

 We love our art time together.

 Friday October 9th we went out to the bay area to visit Grandma and Grandpa.  Friday night we had pizza, played games and watched a movie.  Saturday we all went to the movies.  The kids had already seen Hotel Transylvania 2 with Nana but really wanted to see it again so that's where we went.

 On our way back to Merced we stopped at the outlets and had a yummy yogurt treat.

Once we got home it was time to pack and get ready for Disneyland.

The day before we left for Disneyland was Carer's picture day.

The kids school pictures came out so adorable:

Tuesday 10/13 was Aubrey's last day of art class.  She has been going 2 days a week and just loved it! We will for sure sign up again.  I was so impressed with all they did.  I can't wait to get frames and have her art work on the wall.

 Then it was our trip which I have blogged about in great detail lol.  Then it was back home and back to reality.  At least it was red ribbon week at school which is a fun week of dressing in specific colors, it was also parent teacher conferences which meant minimum days at school and fun long afternoons at home.  Aubrey was so excited with her new Disneyland wardrobe and how she pretty much had a Minnie Mouse shirt for each day.

Monday October 19th was red day:

 Tuesday the 20th purple day:

 Wednesday 21st was green day:

 Thursday the 22nd orange day:

and Friday was blue day and I forgot to get a picture.  With our afternoons off we did lots of crafts:

and played a lot.

 One day I had the idea to walk and pick Carter up from school so I carried the scooter and his helmet and walked all the way there.  I was excited to walk back with my little guy.  He was very excited at first too.

Then reality hit and he was not a happy camper.  I think it's like a 2 mile walk.

At one point I told him next time I will bring his bike and with an angry voice he answered, " How about next time you bring the car!" lol I guess I have to run and walk with him more to get him to love it more.  He use to love walks but with the hot summer we got out of our routine.

On 10/21 there was an honor flight coming from Washington DC to Castle airport with veiterins on it.  We went to support our troops.

 Thursday 10/22 was Light up the Night in downtown Merced.  Its basically a Halloween festivale.  It was fun for the kids to wear their halloween costumes and play games.

 After that we headed over to Chipotle for dinner the kids were so excited to get free chips because they were in the costumes.

Saturday 10/24 we did errands and then picked up Kendall for the zoo boo that night.

 Kids pick for dinner:

Sunday we went to church and then came home and did lots of Halloween crafts.  My mom got us the cutest book it's called Room on the Broom. I looked around on pinterest ans sure enough found a silhouette of the witch so I cut some on my cricut and the kids and I had fun making crafts.  We were having so much fun and loved the book so much I called bot the kids teachers and arranged for me to come in to their classes to read the story and to do a craft with them all the following week.

 Also on Sunday we did some community service and cleaned up our neighborhood.  

Sunday night was our Halloween dinner since I knew the week ahead would be crazy.  We made mummy loaf, monster potatoes, green bean worms, Frankenstein hearts and ghost bananas.

 Halloween week was another spirit week at school.  Monday was yellow day and I didn't get any pictures :( Tuesday was hat day.

 The kids are still loving their bubble guns.

Wednesday 10/28 was crazy hair and sock day.  This was also the day that I did the story and craft in both classes.

 In Carter's class we made hand print witches.

 In Aubrey's we made Halloween lanterns with the silhouettes.

 The kids just loved it and were all hugging me like crazy.  It was really fun I work my witch hat to read the story and then they all got to create their own Halloween jar.  I was so happy that both teachers let me do this in their classes that day.

That night we made mummy pizza's and carved our pumpkins.

We really love this activity!!

The kids got really into this year.

We had fun playing with the camera after.  Carter looks like a ghost.

I don't remember which day but I did Aubrey's Halloween nails. 

Thursday 10/29 the kids and I worked on their class room gifts.

That night was witch's night out.

Friday 10/30 was both kids Halloween parties at school.  Carter got to wear his costume Aubrey got to wear orange and black.  Her class was having a camping party so they got to bring sleeping bags and pillows.

That was a busy day for me.  First party was at Peterson with Aubrey. 

It was so much fun and a great idea.  The kids got to make smores, hear a camp story, do leaf rubbing art, and go fishing.  I was helping at the smore station.

Alajah and Aubrey were matching that day.

Alexia and Aubrey had matching pillows. 

The kids all looked so cute having a slumber party.  Aubrey's class was the only classroom that got to do this.  Mrs. Haar told them fun stories and then I said my good byes and they had lunch and then watched Wizard of Oz.

Then it was off to Carter's party.  First they played bingo, then they did a craft.

Next was the donut game.

Then pin the nose on the pumpkin.

Last was the potluck.  These are what we brought:

The Halloween lunch was adorable.

After we ate we just played with friends.

This cookie was so cute from Scarlett

By the time we got home we were all pretty tired so we hung out at home having a pizza and Lego night.

By the time the real Halloween finally arrived we were pretty Halloweened out! lol It was fun that it was on a Saturday this year.  The first part of the day we just relaxed at home.  Then we went and had an early dinner at Sizzler and then to Trunk or Treat at the church.  The kids loved Wendy Spencer's car the most.  They got to pick a treat or trick they both picked tricks and got rocks in their pumpkins.  It was pretty funny and a good idea.

Carter and Alex

After Trunk or Treat we headed out for some trick or treating door to door style.  The kids loved it.  Some of the houses were really awesome.  The kids loved on house that we went to because the got a glow in the dark wand.  Made me think that you don't always just have to pass out candy.

We got enough candy to last us a while.

Well there you go that was our October 2015! What a great, busy, exciting, fun month!